Blog

A misdemeanor is a much less serious offense than a felony; however; negative implications still exist for being charged with a misdemeanor. Like other types of crimes, a misdemeanor can stay on your criminal record. Misdemeanors can also show up on background checks.
Because of this, you might not be able to get certain jobs, have difficulty qualifying for a loan, or may not have access to housing. In some instances, however, misdemeanor charges can be dropped or lessened to an infraction, especially if you are a first-time offender.
To help you better understand misdemeanors and how they can affect your life, here are four things to know about committing a misdemeanor in Minnesota.

1. Know About the Kinds of Misdemeanors

If you have never been arrested before, the bail bond process may be a mystery to you. Knowing what bail bonds are, how they work, and how you can secure a bail bond for yourself can help make a stressful situation better. Take a look at what you need to know in the event that you are arrested.

The first hours after getting arrested are stressful and confusing, and you probably want to find the quickest way to get out of jail and back home to your family. Posting bond is often the best option, especially if you cannot afford the cost of bail. Unfortunately, many ways exist that anyone can jeopardize their release throughout the process of posting their bond.

In the movies, the character who has just been arrested will always swear that they had no idea that a warrant for their arrest existed, even as viewers shake their head in disbelief. Unlike the melodrama of a Hollywood script, people in real life often do have some reason to think that a warrant may have been issued for their arrest.
If you are one of the many people who may already have some type of outstanding warrant hanging over their heads, this information can help you find a proactive solution.

After your arrest, the court will set your bail. Once you pay your bail, you’re free to leave jail until your next trial date.

Bail bonds are issued by third-party companies who specialize in this service. The amount of the required bail bond fee varies based on the state that you live in and the bail bondsman’s contract, but it’s usually around 10 percent of your bail amount. If your bond is set at $5,000, this means you have to pay a fee of $500. Before you sign a contract with a bail bondsman, make sure you ask the following questions.

1. Do You Have Any Guidelines Concerning Acceptable Bond Amounts?

Some bail bond services have minimums for the bail bonds that they can issue. Others don’t have minimums but have rules that dictate the maximum amount of bail that they can cover. Whether or not a bail bond service has rules concerning minimums and maximums for its bail bonds varies according to the market and the size of the bail bond company.